Budgeting for a baby is no small task. And yet it’s not impossible. When you find out you’re pregnant it’s easy for the mind to whiz off in a million directions, from diapers to college. As helpful as it may be to visualize, trying to picture the whole shebang may leave you feeling utterly overwhelmed.

Break budgeting for your child into chunks. During your maternity days, you have nine months to focus on several immediate financial concerns; the first is OB medical care during pregnancy and at your baby’s birth. If you are unmarried but working, take a close look at your work-provided insurance to determine how well maternity-related services are covered, and don’t forget to factor in up-front costs like appointment co-pays, and even such “small” things as fees for parking when you visit your OB. Look at limitations in your plan: Does your insurance cap certain services like radiology? Do you have a limit on how many ultrasounds will be covered in a given year?

If you are married and on your husband’s insurance plan, have him get the information and go through it with the same fine-tooth comb. If you are uninsured, it is paramount that you get state-subsidized insurance, such as Washington State’s Basic Health. Although not as simple as getting a free ringtone, if you qualify these kinds of insurance programs can be a true lifesaver. After all, giving birth alone — without any complications — costs thousands of dollars.

Another budget consideration is work: Take a look at your employer’s maternity-leave policy. Does it provide any partial pay during leave? Is there no pay provided? Getting this answer as soon as possible will give you the best opportunity to plan.

There are many other areas of baby budgeting to address, but if these first two areas are given priority, you’ll be off to a good start.